This archive report was first published on 17 December 2019.
Published on December 17, 2019, authorities in Indonesia have taken significant measures to ensure the safety of millions of Christians, Hindus, and Buddhists during the upcoming Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations.
With a recent spate of attacks in mind, the country has deployed a record 192,000 police and military personnel to secure the festivities, surpassing last year's deployment of 167,000 personnel.
"As many as 10,000 personnel will be deployed in Jakarta alone," said National Police spokesman Argo Yuwono, highlighting the scale of the security operation.
According to Argo Yuwono, the deployment is a preventive measure, with intelligence data suggesting potential risks. "We're taking preventive measures but we are also ready to take proactive action," he added.
Indonesia has faced numerous attacks in the past, with dozens of groups loyal to Islamic State's violent ideology. Many of these attacks have targeted police and other state symbols.
Authorities have routinely arrested suspected IS-linked militants ahead of alleged planned attacks, including a recent incident in which two militants stabbed Indonesian President Joko Widodo's chief security minister in October.
Additionally, a suicide bomber blew himself up at a police station in Sumatra last month, killing himself and wounding six civilians.
With hundreds of suspects rounded up after the attacks, the country's new chief security minister, Mahfud, has emphasized the need for high security to ensure Christian communities can celebrate Christmas without being targeted by intolerant groups.
"We need to anticipate as early as possible things like intolerant incidents and burning down houses of worship," Mahfud said, highlighting the importance of preventing such incidents.
